St. Landry democrat., 1887-02-12
EACH PARISH MUST CARE FOR
IT'S DEMENTED
Iberia Enterprise.

iberia enterprise
A few days ago Capt. c. T. Cade
Police Juror from the Fifth Ward
caused the incarceration in the parish
Jail of demented cOlored man from
his ward and then wrote to the Presi-
dent of the State Insane Asylum in.
curing if the unfortunate victim could
be admitted in that institution, and
offered to turn over balance of the
proceeds from the sale OF bale of cot
ton belonging to the insane, but the an
swer came that in default of suffi-
cient appropriation for the support of
the institution by the last Legislature
that only limited number of paying
patients could be received and at the
rate of $50 per month. Hence the
colOred maniac will remain in the par
ish prison at a monthly expense to the
parish of S15 per month.
1t would probably be an easy matter
for several contiguous parishes to com
bine and have an insane asylum and
poor house of their own, where the in
mates would cost not more than SIS,
certainly not as much as $50 per month.
Nearly all our State institutions seem
to have the same disease: to make as
much out of the people for as little SER
vice as possible. Maybe the Legisla
ture did not make a sufficient appro-
priation in this instance but the taxes
collected from the people go some
where, and the Legislature and the
State administration ought to know
about it. 1t is true that Gen. Ex-Secre-
tary of State and present Police Jury
man Strong got some of it, and there
may be many others whose financial
delinquencies have not yet been ex-
posed.
1t is to be hoped that the following
from the n. o. States is not also des-
cription of some of our institutions:
A pretty little expose is being made
by the Inter Ocean of internal mis-
management in the County hospital at
Chicago. 1t is charged that, while
there are between 500 and 600 patients
in the hospital there are 200 employees
on the payroll, and that the most and
the best of the positions in the institu-
ton are filled by political heelers and
scalawags; that the delicacies, and in
particular the wines and spirits, inten-
ded for the consumption of the patients,
are appropriated by the officials.
Judge H. L. Lazarus of one of the
district courts in New Orleans, was re-
Gently prosecuted before the Supreme
Court, under articles 1876 and 300 of the
State Constitution, for malfeasance,
ETC., in office. The Court decided the
matter last Monday, by removing him
from office. Justice PochG delivered
the opinion of the Court, which fills
five columns of the Picayune Justice
Fenner delivered concurling opinion
filling two columns of TIE Picayune;
Chief Justice Bermudez delivered
short concurring opinion Justice Todd
Justice Watkins delivered
a dissenting opinion occupying nearly
a column and a half. This decision
simply means that Judge who is not
fit to be Judge, and who has shown bis
unfitness by his conduct, will be re-
moved from Office il the matter be
brought before the Supreme Court.
Mr. Editor.-Why is there no COM
plant on the part of the People, nor of
the Press of the {. S. at the reckless
and extravagant manner that Congress
spends the peoples money IN the paying
IT Pensions People seem not to rea-
lze that the L. S. Government pays
n Pensions more than all the combined
'Orers Of Europe, with their immense
armies and frequent wars. Since the
lose of the war S800,00O,000, have been
,aid out of the [. S. Treasury for Pen
lions. The bill for the present year
will be $75,000,0O0, and the list is still
N the increase.
Had not this money better be used to |
,ay the public debt, or to build and |
public schools?
1t becomes the duty of the Taxpayer
Q rebel at the improvident expenditure
It public money, and we should all |
like raise cry loud enough TO be dis
inctly heard by all who seek Congress
ional honors. The press of the whole
onDtry and more particularly the |
ress of the South should join their |
olces in entering solemn protest |
gainst a continuance of such profit
acy. TAX PAYER.
Gift fnp AIS